The Wrestling 5&1 10.27.12: Candice Michelle vs Carmella Decesare

Future Versus Updates:
* Brooke Tessmacher has two wins, two away from a return engagement with the Hall of Bang…
* Candice Michelle has two wins, and will continue her own journey starting this week…
* Tiffany will receive a new opportunity at the Hall as soon as the opportunity is available…
* After a few weeks of random madness, we are going back on track with the Hall of Bang…

I get your idea with Ryback and how relatable it is to Sheamus, but you gotta remember one thing — when that first happened with Sheamus, everyone crapped ALL over it. Plus, it’s a different shock value when it happens with your biggest face star (Cena) than your top heel. Yeah the kiddies will cheer but everyone else will hate on it, ESPECIALLY since Ryback was out for so long and is still rough around the edges. Plus his character is stupid (I would’ve MUCH rathered them bring him back as Skip Sheffield again, but whatever…what’s done is done.)
People are looking WAY more forward to Punk vs Rock than Ryback as champ. And if you take the belt off Punk and then put it back on him before the Rumble, that just cheapens the whole thing. -Jason King

I honestly feel that if Ryback wins the title, the crowd will erupt! We, the IWC, will most likely not like it, and the long term ramifications would be pretty bad, but the immediacy of the win would cause the crowd to go nuts. I don’t think that the character is stupid, and Skip Sheffield would never survive in the WWE – which is why he didn’t. As for The Rock vs Punk, you’re spot on; people are definitely looking for the aspect of this match happening, and I can only hope they don’t take the belt off of Punk.

I’m one of those people (who seem to be in the minority) who think The Undertaker should lose once at Wrestlemania. One loss is not going erase the aura, mystique, and legend of The Undertaker character. Twenty years from now he’ll still be recognized as a giant of the industry no matter what his Wrestlemania record ends up being.

That said, CM Punk or John Cena are two great choices. They’re not going anywhere, the company has faith in them both, and it they could milk that win FOR THE REST OF THEIR CAREERS. I’d argue Punk needs that boost more than Cena, so he’d be my choice.

I know giving the win to a younger guy would be better for the long-term, but since history has shown its way too hard to figure out whose going to make it (or even stick around) I don’t think wasting The Undertaker’s one Wrestlemania loss on a crapshoot would be wise. – Capt Sassypants

I just can’t agree with anyone that is willing to damage the perfect record of The Undertaker. Using your defense, if one loss is not going to erase the aura, then why even do it? I don’t think that anyone will benefit as much as it would hurt. You’re very right on your assessment of the young guys, which is why they most likely won’t have a new dude win over Taker, but on the other side of the token, it makes no sense for someone like Cena or Punk to win, either, because they are each, arguably, as high as they’ll be on the card, ever. In closing, it would be a waste for anyone to win over The Undertaker, so it’s best just to leave it alone.

Molly vs Serena was hard. Molly has nice tits and an awesome ass. Serena has awesome tits and a nice ass. Ultimately, it came down to two points. One, I’m an ass man first, and two, I’ve seen much more evidence of Molly’s wrestling ability. – G-Walla

And they say we only watch the Divas because of the ass n titties! They don’t know G-Walla!!

Two ways they could go with Ryback IMHO. One way is to have Brock cost him the match at HIAC. Have Ryback destroy Punk for a while only for Heyman to bring in Brock as an insurance policy. Only Brock can’t put Ryback down, and it takes both Punk and Brock to finally secure a win. This scenario allows WWE to go with Punk vs Rock at the RR, and gives Ryback a build for a WM with Lesnar.
The other way would be to just strap the rocket to Ryback’s ass and push him to the moon. Have him destroy Punk (maybe even overcome Lesnar-ferenc to do so). Have him win the rematch (possibly a triple-threat with Cena). Have him beat the Rock at RR and hold on to the belt until WM, where he faces and defeats the RR winner: Brock Lesnar!

Personally I’m torn, because Punk is finally getting momentum as a heel, and the idea of Punk/Rock is awesome. On the other hand, Ryback is mad over, and there’s a possibly once-in-a-generation chance to establish the next Face of the Company to take over once Cena’s done. – Matt Herrera

You got some strong hypotheticals here, particularly the Brock one. In fact, I feel they may very well go that route, and it makes the most sense. I think what I have worries about the most is a Ryback match, considering I haven’t seen one longer than 5 minutes since NXT (and even then, it was a completely different character). If Ryback has a great showing on Sunday night, he’s destined for big things, and what better man to be against to impress people than Punk?

What has Ryback even done to earn a WWE championship match? Can anyone name more than two legitimate superstars he’s beaten since he came back from that ankle injury? I cant. He’s been beating up jobbers this whole time!

WWE has really painted themselves into a corner. They could have CM Punk go over, and that will be the end of Ryback’s dominance. If you want to see how the WWE has done this just this year, take a look at Broadus Clay and Tensai. Oh, wait you cant, because they were pushed too hard, too quickly, jobbed to an entrenched main event talent, and got shipped off to Superstars to wrestle a “best of infinity” series with such dominant athletes as Yoshi Tatsu and Zack Ryder.

On the other hand, they can have Ryback go over, and… then what? Does anyone realistically have confidence in Ryback as WWE champion? Has he even had a singles match longer than 10 minutes on TV? Who would he feud with? Raise your hand if you have any interest in seeing Ryback vs. Big Show, or Ryback vs Kane. There’s not way in hell they feed Cena to Ryback. And if Punk loses, is the WWE just going to drop the whole thing with him and The Rock? If so, what the hell was the point of Punk’s heel turn if they aren’t going to give us a payoff!?

The third option is for a non-finish. Sadly this is probably the best choice at this point. Have Ryback turn out to be a “Paul Heyman guy” and lie down for punk or possibly do a double KO. The Paul Heyman guy bit would probably give Ryback, Punk and Heyman some nice heel heat, but it would rob Ryback of all the credibility he has as an unstoppable monster and Punk and Heyman are over enough as heels without sullying one of the WWE’s hottest new prospects. The double KO thing could make for a cool moment, but didn’t Punk retain under dubious circumstances last month? It also serves to make Ryback look weak for getting knocked out by a guy half his size, AND it lessens the importance of a Hell in a Cell match because we no longer have the expectation that there will be a definitive winner.

What they should have done is run a triple threat match between Cena, Ryback, and Punk with Punk pinning Cena after Ryback destroys him. That way, Ryback and Punk can do the heavy lifting, Punk and Cena can walk Ryback through his first major main even appearance, Ryback dosn’t need to eat a pinfall or submission loss, Punk can get more heel heat for stealing a win from Ryback, and John Cena has an excuse to lose because he’s still injured. – jlevysan

There’s so much I agree with, but a few things that I can argue as well. Ryback deserves a WWE Champ match because he clicked with the audience and with the business. He deserves a shot because of timing. He deserves it because he’s huge. Sure, I don’t agree with ALL of these reasons, but they’re there and that’s why. Brodus is an entertainer more than a wrestler, and Tensai was a failed experiment. I have NEVER been a fan of the super push, and thinks it hurts more wrestlers than it helps, but Ryback has been an exception, and a lot of it has to due with the consistency of his character. I agree that the WWE is in “a corner”, but I think they have many assets that can help them get out of this proverbial corner. I can’t see Ryback willingly lie down for Punk due to the fact that it’s bad business, not what the fans want to see, and makes little sense in the build of Ryback (which you pointed out). As for a triple threat, anything that keeps Cena out of the damned main event is something I admirably accept, so I like the match just the way it is. All in all, I love that you commented and even moreso that you disagreed but didn’t come out disparaging.

Very bad pictures so I’m not voting – Gee Spotter

Of ALL the hot Hemme pics… THESE are the ones you post?? SMDH
Oh and Molly By a Country Mile…. see what I did there? Yeah I agree it sucked. – Ryan

Fellas, fellas, fellas. I sorely apologize for the photos, but while putting this column together, the LEAST of my worries are the ladies and the photos I choose for them.

In short:

Sorry, Tony. She’s married. – KipSmithers

Damn

WWE Hell in the Cell (Bold) Predictions
By Greg DeMarco

WWE Hell in a Cell takes place Sunday, October 28, emanating from Atlanta, GA. The event is headlined by the 26th Hell in a Cell match when CM Punk defends the WWE Championship against the undefeated Ryback.

There are many questions surrounding the finish to that match. According to a report from The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the WWE is seeking out a way to keep the title on CM Punk while not prematurely ending Ryback’s streak.

Another looming question for many fans is whether Dolph Ziggler will cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase at the conclusion of Sheamus’s World Heavyweight Championship match against The Big Show.

Questions like these give me the perfect opportunity to make my own bold predictions. Read on to see what outlandish ideas just might happen at the WWE Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.

WWE Uses a Stunt for the Main Event Finish
The WWE is struggling to book a proper finish to the main event: CM Punk’s WWE Championship defense against Ryback. How can the company effectively finish a match where there is always a clear winner—yet make both men look strong.

The answer is simple: book a no-contest.

The first thought that comes to your mind is likely the same one that came to mine: how can you book a no-contest in a Hell in a Cell match?

The WWE is not above producing a Hollywood-style stunt at their events. The Big Show himself has been a part of two ring-breaking moments in WWE history. (The most recent? Vengeance 2011 vs. Mark Henry.)

One can predict that a similar stunt will take place at Hell in a Cell. We’ve seen pieces of the Hell in a Cell structure get compromised in the past. This one could cause injury to the referee or provide CM Punk with an opportunity to escape.

While not a happy ending, a large scale stunt involving the Hell in a Cell structure is the perfect way to keep the WWE Championship around CM Punk’s waist and keep Ryback’s undefeated streak intact.

There is one way to provide the fans with an exciting ending: a big return. However, this bold prediction isn’t named Brock Lesnar.

“The Animal” ReturnsJust over a month ago, multi-time former world champion Dave “Batista” Bautista commented on a potential WWE return. According to a report from PWInsider, Batista would be open to a WWE return. The former WrestleMania headliner dropped the names of Triple H, The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar during an interview with MMA Uncensored.

One way to turn the fans’ attention away from a stunt involving the Hell in a Cell structure—and a CM Punk escape—would be the return of Batista to confront Ryback. The crowd, likely over 18,000 fans, in Atlanta’s Phillips Arena would explode upon Batista’s entrance, and would be electric during their staredown.

And it could add another potential matchup to what could be the most loaded WrestleMania ever: Ryback vs. Batista.

Dolph Ziggler Cashes In—And Loses
Ever since Dolph Ziggler won the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank Ladder Match at the July 15 pay-per-view event, fans have awaited his potential cash-in. Hell in a Cell provides a great opportunity for that moment to take place.

Sheamus will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against The Big Show, a man known for punches that pack enough power to knockout any man out. A Sheamus win followed by a Show knockout punch would provide Dolph Ziggler with just the opportunity he needs to cash in his title shot.

But there is a wildcard in all of this—two, actually.

Firstly, the WWE has shown that they are solidly behind Sheamus. He’s been heavily featured in multiple commercial campaigns (his Kmart campaign is included below). He’s also been a prominent figure in the company’s “be a STAR” campaign against bullying. I am not 100% sure they are ready to end his title reign.

Secondly, the WWE already halted the streak of successful Money in the Bank cash-ins when John Cena failed to capture the WWE Championship at Raw 1000. The company might be starting a new streak of losses for the holder of the briefcase.

John Cena Makes an Early AppearanceJohn Cena is already advertised for the Hell in a Cell pre-show, which will air on Facebook, YouTube and WWE.com. He will be responding to questions submitted via Facebook, Twitter and Tout.

But could he make an appearance on the pay-per-view proper?

The storyline accusations of an affair involving Cena and former WWE Raw General Manager AJ Lee got a response from a surprising WWE Superstar—Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler made some comments about Cena in a backstage interview during Raw.

Could the face of the company respond at Hell in a Cell? It’s easily conceivable to have Ziggler make an in-ring appearance on the event, further teasing his potential Money in the Bank cash-in for the World Heavyweight Championship.

I could see John Cena taking that opportunity to respond to Ziggler’s comments on Raw, leading to a physical confrontation that does not end favorably for Ziggler.

Two Matches Will Be Added to the Card
In addition to the announced matches, I could see two matches added to the event.

Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara face The Prime Time Players

Both teams are announced as competitors on opposite teams of a six-man tag team match for next week’s edition of WWE Main Event (also involving Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio, respectively). On top of that, the WWE is pushing the tag-team division.

Both teams are recognizable, and a pay-per-view match furthers both teams and the division itself. Plus it puts two very popular stars—Mysterio and Cara—on the card.

United States Champion Antonio Cesaro defends against Justin Gabriel

The WWE provided viewers with a surprising finish during Monday’s Raw, as Justin Gabriel earned a clean pinfall victory over United States Champion Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro had been a dominant champion since winning the belt at SummerSlam, and Gabriel’s win is considered a big upset.

Gabriel’s win as in their second recent match, meaning both men are now tied in their unofficial series of matches. A rubber match on the pay-per-view, for the championship, makes perfect sense and would be an exciting addition to the card.

You Decide: What bold predictions would you make for the card?

WWE Hell in the Cell (Real) Predictions
By Greg DeMarco

Randy Orton vs Alberto Del Rio
I am more excited about this match that one might think. Del Rio’s new attitude is working for me—I guess all it took were the black trunks! Orton has acted more heelish in recent weeks as well, furthering the speculation that he’ll eventually turn.

The real indicator of this match is the set-up of next week’s WWE Main Event…er, main event. Orton and Del Rio will captain opposite sides of a six-man tag, meaning this feud might continue. Normally, that would mean a win for Del Rio. But this is the WWE, and they love to protect Orton more than TNA loves to protect Rob Van Dam.

Winner: Randy Orton

Divas Championship
Eve (champion) vs Kaitlyn vs Layla
The backstage segment on Raw was well done, especially on Kaitlyn’s end. I actually think the WWE has something with her—could she be the “next big thing?” Time will tell, but I think she has that potential.

The match itself should exceed my low expectations. I’d love for the company to build to a bigger Kaitlyn-Eve showdown, so Eve stealing one here makes the most sense.

Winner: Eve

Intercontinental Championship
Kofi Kingston (champion) vs The Miz
Kofi has been on fire lately, and the Miz is such an underrated talent. I would actually see this feud continue for another month, leading to a Raw main event cage match. For now, I just look forward to seeing if they can top their recent successes. They won’t be given as much time on the PPV as they received on Main Event—so it might be a slight step back. But it’ll still be an entertaining match.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Tag Team Championship
Team Hell No (champions) vs Team Rhodes Scholars
Both of these teams are great, and I want both to continue after this match concludes. In fact, we could be on the verge of a legit, top of the card level feud in the tag team division.

This match could steal the show, as all four men have been great-to-amazing over the past few weeks. I am going with the title change here, but I really think (hope?) this is just the beginning.

Winner: Rhodes Scholars (NEW WWE Tag Team Champions)

World Heavyweight Championship
Sheamus (champion) vs The Big Show
I haven’t been overly inspired by the booking of this feud. In fact, the real question for me is whether or not Dolph Ziggler will cash in his Money in the Bank title match. Both men are capable, and Show is the prefect opponent to set-up the cash-in.

Why not, right? Sheamus wins, and an upset Big Show connects with the WMD punch post-match. This leads “The Cash In” for “The Show Off,” and we have a new World Heavyweight Champion.

Winner: Sheamus, followed up by a successful Dolph Ziggler Money in the Bank cash-in.

Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship
CM Punk (champion) vs Ryback
Ah, the match that has everyone wondering—and complaining. The WWE has done an amazing job with the build to this match, so much so that no one knows what will happen.

Will the WWE put the strap on Ryback? Will they have CM Punk end the undefeated streak? Will Brock Lesnar be involved? No one knows, and that’s the glory of it all!

To me, this match screams no-contest. I know that Hell in a Cell matches typically have a clean finish, but I just don’t see it happening here. Neither man can lose—thus neither will win. But how do you book a no-contest in a Hell in a Cell match?

Time to go Hollywood once again. There will be some sort of collapse with the Hell in a Cell structure—something that shocks the audience and allows Punk to flee. Heyman likely gets Shell Shocked to make the audience happy. And it’s the best decision—Punk stays champ and Ryback stays undefeated.

Winner: No-Contest

You Decide: What do you think will happen at WWE Hell in a Cell?

WWE Hell in the Cell (Real Boring) Predictions
By Tony Acero

Randy Orton vs Alberto Del Rio

The match that nobody cares about! Well, I care about it, and it appears that Greg cares about it, but for whatever reason, people seem to be really sour on Del Rio. I assume it’s due to his build always seemingly lacking something, and that holds a lot of truth, but this feud, even though it’s more of a background story, has some legs that simply stems from each man not liking each other. It’s one of those storylines that needs no introduction. As for the match, it’s hard not to applaud either man; they’re both crisp in the ring, and as long as they are given some time, it’s going to be a good one. I don’t see Del Rio winning this because the WWE loves them some Orton, and really, it’s not going to hurt Del Rio to lose since he’s the Ziggler of Smackdown.

Winner: Randy Orton

Divas Championship

Eve (champion) vs Kaitlyn vs Layla

Congratulations, WWE, for doing something with the Divas that resembles a storyline. I don’t foresee this match to be anything special, as the only one I’ve seen grow is Eve in terms of wrestling skill, but even so, she still makes mistakes. I still am very glad they’re on the card and have a reason to care. Should be more interesting than anything we’ve seen in months.

Winner: Eve

Intercontinental Championship

Kofi Kingston (champion) vs The Miz

As I said before, these two have elevated a feud off of just one kick. The reason is the Intercontinental Title, but the motivation is much more different, and I’m lovin it. As Greg said, this match can very well steal the show, and I think it just might. They had a great match on RAW with the kick and a spectacular match on Main Event that was catapulted off of the kick. I’m looking forward to a great match that Kofi will ultimately come out on top of.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Tag Team Championship

Team Hell No (champions) vs Team Rhodes Scholars

I believe this is one of only two matches where Greg and I differ, as I don’t see them removing the titles from Kane and Bryan, even if I want them to. When they were given the titles, I wasn’t too happy because I knew they’d be used as tools moreso than actual titles, and I was right on that aspect. What I was wrong about, however was the WWE forgetting tag teams existed. Luckily, we had a great contest that ended with a surprising result. Good for Rhodes and Sandow, and although I would like to see them win this – and a small part of me says it’s very possible – I feel that the WWE still enjoys the idea of Bryan and Kane shouting at each other.

Winner: Team Hell No

World Heavyweight Championship

Sheamus (champion) vs The Big Show

This is another feud that I think has gotten a great build but not enough love, and I’m not sure I can put my finger on why. Sheamus has run through competition and is sittin complacent at the top, thinking he can take anyone down…even a seven foot giant. Said giant isn’t too happy about Sheamus’ attitude towards the title and especially towards him, so throughout the weeks, he’s been trying to show Sheamus he isn’t the man to mess with, only for Sheamus to laugh it off. The Big Show heel turn wasn’t the greatest (and are his ever?), but it was effective and they’re taking as much as they can get out of it. I think Sheamus is going to win here, but I’m not sure about it. It’s a very hesitant choice, and it has nothing to do with Ziggler.

I know Greg feels that Ziggler is going to run in and cash his briefcase in, but I don’t see it happening here for some reason. I’m not 100% sure,but RAW seemed to set up some sort of program with Cena in the near future with Ziggler, so I don’t see him cashing it in quite yet. If I’m wrong, then I think it will be after a Big Show win, not a Sheamus win, but I really don’t see it happening.

Winner: Sheamus

Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship

CM Punk (champion) vs Ryback

Ryback will not win the title. I don’t think he is ready. I think Greg may be onto something with the whole Hollywood ending, but maybe not. This is a match that I have yet to figure out, and to be honest I have not tried to figure it out, either. The build and the decision to have Ryback in it was too much fun to watch and I really want to just enjoy what may happen. All I truly know is that Punk will not lose his belt, and shouldn’t.

Winner: CM Punk

You Decide: How would you book the WWE Championship Match?

We are back on track for the TNA Experiment, and this week we’re taking a look at the 7.26.12 edition that was main evented by Bully Ray vs Kurt Angle! We started with a recap of the Aces and Eights goin buckwild last week attacking Aries, Angle, Hogan and the like. I found it interesting that Roode tried to convince us it was Storm all along, already planting a seed. The women’s match that followed wasn’t all that spectacular, but you can easily tell that they’re leaps and bounds above the WWE’s ladies.

Prior to this episode, I had never seen a Gut Check moment, and only heard about it once. Interesting, and if it’s not storyline driven, it’s a cool way to let fans in behind the curtain. The match was nothing to see with the exception of Joey Ryan making his presence known, which should entice some viewers. The decision moment is also interesting because it seemed they’re tying in reality with fiction and not beating it over the heads of us by doing it.

Chavo Guerrero was pimped throughout the early part of the show to be something of a big deal, and I wasn’t buying it. After his promo, I still wasn’t buying it and don’t see him as anything but a lower to mid card player. Knowing TNA, however, he may very well be destined for bigger things. As long as his wrestling is still crisp and he keeps his Twitter mouth shut, I’ll bite.

The AJ vs Storm match is one of those examples that you want to show people who love wrestling but have never seen TNA. It was a tv match that felt just a shade under a PPV match and I just love that.

As for the X-Division, I’m still not as gung ho on it as I thought I was going to be, and it almost seems like they’re really just stalling with Ion until Sorensen returns. Even in their stalling, however, they’re building towards something.

To be fair, I haven’t seen Kurt Angle wrestle anyone in years aside from that great Samoa Joe Match at Destination X. Likewise, I haven’t seen Bully intensively either. Watching these guys who have long since washed the stench of “former WWE” off of them was a treat, because they have really grown as performers and you can tell that “veteran” is a perfect word to describe them. The match was good, but it was moreso the little things that I enjoyed from each, coupled with the match itself.

It was another solid editon of TNA that had equal parts build and wrestling. These folks may very well know what they’re doin…

You Decide:

The Greg DeMarco Show with NWA Champion Adam Pearce

Greg and Patrick are joined by Andy Critchell for a preview of the WWE Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. Will Ryback “shellshock” the world and take the WWE Championship from CM Punk?

Five-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce joins the program in advance of his 7-Levels-of-Hate finale in the Land Down Under opposite his greatest rival Colt Cabana inside of a steel cage.

We were also joined by surprise guests Josh Damian from our friends at UCW-Zero as well as Ref Jay Stone from Millennium Pro Wrestling.

(NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances Larry Dallas did not make it to the show this week, but will return next week!)

All this and plus Justin Freemyer’s “This Week in Wrestling History” and the west coast connection of Tony Acero and “The Sin City Siren” Terra Calaway.

About The Greg DeMarco Show:
Discussing current events in professional wrestling—including WWE RAW, Smackdown, TNA Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor and many US independent promotions and regularly featuring guests from all over the world of wrestling, Greg DeMarco and Patrick O’Dowd present opinionated analysis of the wrestling world that remains rooted in a love, passion and respect for the industry. The show is presented live each week by the VOC Nation and streams worldwide each weekend via Bruce Wirt’s Voice of Choice Nation at http://www.vocnation.com. You can reach the show via e-mail at [email protected], Facebook by searching for “Greg DeMarco Show” or Twitter @gregdemarcoshow.

Check out this match with two of the lovely DeMarcettes involved, Su Yung and Barbi Hayden!!